“No.”
He finished securing the leather straps around my legs and said, “There are handles by your hips.”
“I see them.”
“I only recommend that you hold those if we go upside down.”
“Upside down?”
He propped a hand on his leg and swiveled partway around. “Yes, sometimes dragons fly upside down. Surely you know this.”
“But I—yes, I know this, but I’m wearing a skirt.”
“Then I’ll encourage him to go upside down,” he said, leaning forward and patting Azeron on the neck. “Won’t you, boy?”
I slapped Rush’s back with the back of my hand.
“When we go up, it’s best if you lean forward a little. If you lean back, you’re liable to fall off. Considering your record at the lair, I’d say there’s a good chance you will anyway.”
“You were watching? I’m shocked you know other people exist.”
“It’s hard not to notice you,” he said casually. But as soon as the words were out, the muscles in his back tensed, and I felt his quick inhale. “Also hard to miss when someone falls off a dragon.” The laughter that followed dispelled the tension. “There’s a long strap I can cinch around your waist, but we usually only use those with children when they’re learning to ride. If you don’t think you can hang on, tell me and I’ll put it on.”
The thought of his arm reaching around my waist sent the next words flying from my mouth. “I’ll be fine.”
“That’s what I thought you’d say. Now, again, handles if we go upside down. Otherwise, I want you hanging on right here.” He patted his stomach.
“I really, really hate you,” I said, fighting a smile as I leaned forward to place my hand on his waist.
“Don't be shy,” he said, grabbing my arm to pull it forward, tucking it around his stomach until my face was pressed against his back. “This is how we will leave the school, unless you’d rather me go visit your dragon alone.”
“I don’t.”
“Then stop complaining about having to hold on to me.” He tapped Azeron gently three times with his hand. “Up.” He leaned forward, pressing his arm against mine to make sure that I was gripping tightly. Then he moved his hands back to the saddle grips. “Here we go.”
Azeron spread his wings in one graceful motion, launching us into the cold night air. I let out a small scream and squeezed Rush with all my might.
The dragon beat his wings three quick times, lifting us upward. The air stole from my lungs, and I was grateful that Rush’s midsection felt as sturdy as a tree. We soared over the forest, and as soon as we cleared the trees, Azeron darted forward, dipping a little as he caught the breeze. My stomach leaped clear into my mouth.
I lifted my head only enough to be able to see as we flew over the city, and as soon as the buildings became like matchboxes beneath us, I forgot that I was clinging to the duke’s son. I forgot that I was from a family where dragon riding was never allowed, forgot that I was disliked by most of the people at my school, forgot that I was heading out to study magic.
My mouth opened and caught the cold night air, my hair tearing free from the braid Vanya had woven before we’d fallen asleep. We coasted high on the wind, not dipping and twisting, but flying in a smooth, straight line. The ground was far away, terrifyingly so, but this was what it was to truly fly. Not circling the lair, obeying orders. Really soaring.
Rush, thankfully, said nothing to me as we flew, letting me take in this moment as if he weren’t even there. Except he was. His body was pressed directly to mine. I was aware of his every breath, every time his muscles tensed before we banked left or right, every time Rush used his knees to direct his dragon where to go.
Once or twice, when Azeron got curious and wanted to alter his course, Rush would mutter gently, “This way, Az.”
Quicker than I’d thought possible, we were nearing the part of the city where townhouses were crammed together in rows. Only the largest ones stood at the corners of the blocks, and we neared one of these, which was harder to recognize from the air.
Azeron dove head first toward the ground. I slammed forward against Rush with such force that my cheeks squished and my mouth opened. A scream wheezed from my lungs. Fear like I’d never experienced gripped my whole body. We dipped down through the streets like a hawk after its prey. Then, before I was ready, the dragon’s wings spread, and we slowed. This time, my stomach dropped clean to the ground beneath us as Azeron leveled out in the brick courtyard. A moment later, his feet settled gently on the ground.
No lights burned in the house or the lair, but Myth rattled the stone door of the large structure. As Rush had assured me, the duke hadn’t been here. A slow exhale.
As soon as we dismounted, his a graceful thing, mine a shaky-armed mess, Rush unlocked the lair and shifted his weight to heave open the heavy door.
“Ready?” he asked, eyes on Azeron. I wasn’t sure if his question was for me or his dragon.
Myth’s face popped out first, his nose lowering to bump my stomach. It felt like a boxer’s punch, but I laughed, keeling over to wrap my arms around his face.
